Our Opinion: Blagojevich just won’t go away

IF ROD BLAGOJEVICH were an ordinary, run-of-the-mill impeached and federally indicted former governor, we’d compare his post-impeachment, pre-trial antics to that bad car wreck you know you shouldn’t look at yet you do anyway.

The State Journal-Register

Writer

Posted Sep. 3, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 3, 2009 at 2:05 AM

Posted Sep. 3, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 3, 2009 at 2:05 AM

IF ROD BLAGOJEVICH were an ordinary, run-of-the-mill impeached and federally indicted former governor, we’d compare his post-impeachment, pre-trial antics to that bad car wreck you know you shouldn’t look at yet you do anyway.

But that old car wreck adage somehow doesn’t do justice to Private Citizen Blagojevich.

He’s more like an exploding dirigible surrounded by dancing, naked celebrities. Good taste says we must avert our eyes, but…

And so it is that we turn our attention — just this once and never again, we promise — to “The Governor: Finally the Truth Behind the Political Scandal that Continues to Rock the Nation.” (Fun fact: At 15 words, that title contains 1.0666666666666666666666666666667 words per federal charge Blagojevich will face at his trial next year.)

It’s an entertaining read, in the same sense that a psychological case study can be entertaining.

* Blagojevich on patronage: “I wanted to stay above it. I didn’t want to get dragged into the petty squabbles that surrounded things like jobs and promotions.” Hmm. Ali Ata may have something different to say about that, under oath, in federal court.

* On not living in Springfield: “We wanted to keep their lives as normal as possible to keep them as humble as possible.” Yes, and a fine example of humble normalcy it is to use a state plane to fly home from Springfield so you can attend a Blackhawks game while other people do the work at the Capitol.

* On his ouster: “… I believe there was a deal between the new Senate leadership, Mike Madigan, and Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, to get me out of the way so Quinn could propose an increase in the state income tax.” Well, there’s been no tax increase, and thousands of state employees have furlough schedules to prove it.

* On what he’d do differently: “If I’m ever a governor again, and I’m called upon to appoint a United States Senator, let me make this promise. I’ll jump off a bridge first.”

Mr. Blagojevich, would you be willing to sign a memorandum of understanding on that?